Universities unite in budget fight for higher calling

Two years of multimillion-dollar state budget cuts to Kansas higher education and annual escalation in student tuition and borrowing beg the question: What next?

Political debate about the future of taxpayer financing of the 32-school Kansas Board of Regents system returns to the forefront in mid-January when the 2014 Legislature assembles in Topeka. Tens of thousands of lawmakers' constituents who are investing years of their life and accumulating hefty debt while earning associate, bachelor and graduate degrees will track these high-stakes deliberations.

Chief executives of the area's most influential schools — Washburn University, Kansas State University, The University of Kansas — said they wouldn't be shy about laying down arguments at the Capitol for stronger state investment in higher education.